Cabinet heater



A. R. JAIN CABINET HEATER Dec. 8, 1942.

Filed Jan. 8, 1941 INVENTOR. BY fiZI H K J /m flrr N5??? Patented Dec.8, 1942 CABINET HEATER Alva R. Jain, Kokomo, Ind., assignor to GlobeAmerican Corporation, Kokomo, Ind., a corporation Applicatlon January 8,1941, Serial No. 373,645 Claims. (01. 126-116) This invention relates toa cabinet heater. In the use of cabinet heaters of the coal, wood or oilburning type, the heated air ordinarily rises directly from the heaterto the upper part of the room, leaving a relatively cold zone near thefloor. In order to provide a more even distribution of heat through theroom, some means of discharging heated air from the heater at ornear thefloor level is desirable. Such means must be readily accessible forservice, cleaning and repairs and, if it includes an electric motor, itshould be so arranged that the motor is not in direct contact with astream of hot air and may be suitably ventilated.

One object of the present invention is to provide a construction for acabinet heater in which a motor driven fan draws air downwardly from anair inlet opening adjacent the top of the heater cabinet and dischargesthe same at the floor level.

Another object of the invention is to provlde ready accessibility in aunit of this type.

Another object of the invention is to provide for suitable ventilationof the motor and protection of the motor against contact with the streamof the heated air.

These objects and others are attained by the construction moreparticularly described hereinafter. In its preferred form, thisconstruction provides a service opening adjacent the lower portion ofone side of the heater, a closure for the opening and a motor and fan somounted on the closure that they may be withdrawn with the closure as aunit. In addition, there is provided an arrangement of partitions, partsof which are mounted on the closure and are removable therewith, saidpartitions providing the necessary protection for the motor andproviding baflles in the interior of the cabinet to confine the streamof air for proper delivery to and exit from the fan.

Other objects and features of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

Fig. l is a sectional view in elevation through a cabinet heaterconstructed in accordance with a preferred form of the invention, thesection being taken substantially on line of Figs. 2 and 4. Fig. 2 is asectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa rear view of the lower portion of thecabinet showing the serviceopening with the closure and associated parts removed. Fig. 4 is a planview of the 010- sure and associated parts. Fig. 5 is a rear view of thesame. Fig. 6 isa sectional view in elevation taken substantially on theline 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring particularly to the drawing in which there is disclosed, byway of illustration, a preferred form of the invention, a heater I0 isenclosed within a cabinet The heater may be of any well known formburning coal, wood, oil or other suitable fuel. The cabinet H isprovided with air inlet openings |2 at the top thereof and with airoutlet openings l3 adjacent the lower portions of one or more of thewalls thereof. The rear wall H of the cabinet is provided with a serviceopening l5 as best seen in Fig. 3.

-Within the cabinet Hi there is provided a horizcntal partial partitionplate |6, the shape of which is best seen in Fig. 2. Said partitionplate is provided with an opening having a half round portion l1 and asubstantially straight portion bounded by the edges l8 of said plate.Guide members I9 are provided suitably spaced above the edges |8 of saidplate. A closure plate 20 slightly larger than the service opening I5 isprovided and on said plate there is mounted a partial partition plate2|, the edges of which are adapted to slide in guideways between theplate l6 and guide members IS. The plate 2| has one edge 22 formed in ahalf round shape and adapted to mate with the portions ll of plate |6 toform a circular fan opening. The plates l6 and 2| together form apartition dividing the cabinet into an upper chamber 23 in which theheater I0 is located and a lower chamber 24 communicating with the airoutlet openings l3. The only communication between said chambers isthrough the fan opening bounded by the edges l1 and 22.

Within the chamber 24 there is provided a box-like structure havingvertical side walls 25 supported on the bottom plate 26' of the cabinetand having a rear wall 26 similarly supported. The side walls 25 extendrearwardly to the service opening l5 and thus the rear portion of saidstructure is in communication with said opening. The upper edges of thewalls 25 and 26 carry guideways' 21 adapted to receive the edges of aplate 28 supported on the closure member 20. Said plate is of the propershape and size to form 'with the structure 25-26 a motor chamber. 29which has no communication with the chamber 24 but which communicateswith the service opening I5. An opening 30 in the plate 20 (Fig. 5)provides for ventilation of said motor chamber. An electric motor 3| ismounted on the undersurface of the plate 26 and is normally within themotor chamber when the closure member 20 and associated parts are inplace. A fan 32 is driven by said motor and is positioned above theplate 28 substantially at the level of the partition plates l6 and 2|and within the fan opening formed between portions l1 and 22 of saidplates. A motor switch 33 is mounted on the plate 20 and suitableconnections including a cord 34 and plug 35 are provided for connectingthe motor to a suitable source of power such as a lighting outlet andfor control of the motor by said switch.

From the above description it will be apparent that the fan 32 may beoperated to draw air downwardly through the openings [2, about theheater Ill, through the fan opening and thence outwardly through theopenings l3 at substantially floor level. A much more even distributionof heat in the room to be heated is thus obtained.

The provision of the partition formed by the plates l6 and 2| confinesthe stream of air to the area over which the fan blades are efiectiveand prevents recirculation of air within the cabinet. The provision ofthe motor chamber 29 closed from the chamber 24 and open for ventilationthrough the closure plate 30 insures against over heating of the motor.For service and repairs the closure plate 20 may be withdrawn carryingwith it the motor, fan and the two plates 2| and 28 secured to saidclosure member. The shape of the opening in plate It bounded by the edgeI! insures that the fan may be drawn directly outward withoutinterference. The provision of the guideways l9 and 21 provides aconvenient means for supporting the movable structure when in place andduring removal and replacement.

The invention has been described in one of its preferred forms, thedetails of which maybe varied without departing from the.scope thereofas defined in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is: 1. In a cabinet heater having a heater unit,and a cabinet surrounding said unit and having an air inlet opening inits upper portion, air outlet openings in its lower portion and aservice opening in the lower portion of one wall thereof, thesub-combination of a closure for said service opening, a pair of matingplates together forming a substantially horizontal partition dividingsaid cabinet into an upper chamber in which said heater is located and alower chamber communicating with said air outlet openings, one of saidplates being secured to said cabinet and the other being secured to saidclosure, and the partition formed thereby having a fan opening therein,and a fan mounted on said closure and positioned in said fan openingwhen said closure is in place, said closure, said fan and the platesecured to said closure being removable as a unit.

2. In a cabinet heater having a heating unit, and a cabinet surroundingsaid unit and having an air inlet opening in its upper portion, airoutlet openings in its lower portion and a service opening in the lowerportion of one wall thereof, the sub-combination of a closure for saidservice opening, a pair of mating plates together forming asubstantially horizontal partition dividing said cabinet into an upperchamber in which said heater is located and a lower chambercommunicating with said air outlet openings, one of said plates beingsecured to said cabinet and the other being secured to said closure andthe partition formed thereby having a fan opening therein, means in saidlower chamber forming a box-like structure open at the top and open tosaid service opening at one side, a third plate secured to said closureand adapted to close the top of said structure and to form therewith amotor chamber out of communication with said lower chamber, a motormounted on the underside of said third plate and normally within saidmotor chamber, and a ran driven by said motor and sure, motor, fan andthe two plates secured to said closure being removable as a unit.

3. In a cabinet heater having a-heating unit,

and a cabinet surrounding said unit and having an air inlet openingin-its upper portion, air outlet openings in its lower portion and aservice opening in the lower portion of one wall thereof, thesub-combination of a closure for said service opening, a pair of matingplates together forming a substantially horizontal partition dividingsaid structure and to form therewith a motor chamber out ofcommunication with said lower chamber, a motor mounted on the undersideof said third plate and normally within said motor chamber, a fan drivenby said motor and normally positioned in said fan opening, said closure,motor, fan and the two plates secured to said closure being removable asa unit, and said closure having a ventilating opening communicating withsaid motor chamber.

4. In a cabinet heater having a heating unit, and a cabinet surroundingsaid unit and having an air inlet opening in its upper portion, airoutlet openings in its lower portion and a service opening in the lowerportion of one wall thereof, the sub-combination of a fan supported onsaid closure and normally positioned beneath said heating unit, apartial partition plate secured to said cabinet in a horizontal positionsubstantiaL ly at the level of-said fan and having an opening therein ofsufiicient size to permit withdrawal of said fan horizontally throughsaid service opening, a second partial partition plate secured to saidclosure and mating with said first plate to close the opening thereinexcept for a fan opening immediately surrounding said fan, saidpartition plates together forming a partition dividing said cabinet intoan upper chamber in which said heating unit is located and a lowerchamber communicating with said air outlet openings.

5. In a cabinet heater having a heating unit, and a cabinet surroundingsaid unit and having an air inlet opening in its upper portion, airoutlet openings in its lower portion and a service opening in the lowerportion of one wall thereof, the sub-combination of a fan supported onsaid closure and normally positioned beneath said heating unit, apartial partition plate secured to said cabinet in a horizontal positionsubstantially at the level of said fan and having an opening therein ofsufllcient size to permit withdrawal of said fan horizontally throughsaid service opening, a second partial partition plate secured to saidclosure and mating with said first plate to close the opening thereinexcept for a fan opening immediately surrounding said tan, saidpartition plates together forming a partition dividing said cabinet intoan upper chamber in which said heating unit is located and a lowerchamber communicating with said air outlet openings, and

said second plate being slidable in guideways formed on said firstplate.

- ALVA R. JAIN.

normally positioned in said fan opening; ma clo- 7s

